JP2003523779A - Body fluid treatment device that transports body fluid by siphon suction - Google Patents

Abstract

  (57) [Summary] The present invention relates to a bodily fluid treatment process including the step of transporting bodily fluid by siphon siphoning. The invention further relates to an apparatus for performing such a process. The invention further relates to a bodily fluid treatment device comprising a liquid transport member that is substantially geometrically saturated with liquid.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to processes for treating body fluids such as urine, sweat, saliva, blood, menses, pus or stool substances, and devices for carrying out such processes. The present invention further relates to disposable absorbent articles such as baby diapers and training pants, adult incontinence products, and feminine hygiene products, as well as other body fluid treatment products such as catheters, urine bottles and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Devices for the treatment of body fluids are well known in the art and are frequently used for various purposes. For example, the device serves hygienic purposes such as diapers, sanitary napkins, adult incontinence products, forearm sweat pads, wound dressings and the like. Thus, such a device may, for example, be
Designed to interact with a wide range of body fluids.

Usually, such a body fluid treatment device captures body fluid in a first area of the apparatus, transports the body fluid from the capture area, and finally into a second area labeled as a liquid storage area. It is desirable to preserve the liquid. There are various reasons for transporting bodily fluids from the capture zone. The reason is that an uncomfortable bulk is created in the vicinity of the liquid discharge point from the living body, and
Avoiding prolonged contact between body fluids and skin. Bodily fluids may be transported in a direction perpendicular to the capture zone surface, i.e., into the bulk of the device, or bodily fluids may be transported from the capture point along a direction parallel to the capture zone surface. Or any of them may be used. Liquid transport in these devices
Usually achieved by capillary suction.

However, capillary suction has some inherent limitations. It is necessary to increase capillary suction by reducing the size of the capillaries, especially when it is desired to transport the liquid against gravity. On the other hand, capillaries with a reduced aperture size exhibit higher resistance to liquid flow through the capillaries. Thus, the combination of high capillary suction and high liquid flow velocity is achieved only by supplying a large number of small capillaries, which in turn increases the overall cross-sectional area of the device. Lead to things.

In PCT patent application WO 94/03214 (Lawrence) it is shown to transfer liquid from a capture point by siphon siphoning. In the same application, it is taught that gravity or vacuum is a driving force for moving the liquid. However, both driving forces present inherent drawbacks. If gravity is used as the driving force, the functionality of the device will depend on its orientation in space. That is, the storage area must always be lower than the capture area. Therefore, there is a limit to the applicability of the liquid moving device that depends on gravity. When a vacuum is used as the driving force, a high mechanical effort is required to maintain the vacuum. Therefore, in this case, the complexity of the device reduces the range of possible applications. Moreover, the liquid of this device will still be stored when it is relatively mobile, which can create new water wetting and squeezing problems.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the problems presented by conventional body fluid treatment devices.

Providing a body fluid treatment process comprising the steps of transporting a liquid by siphoning and storing the liquid by capillary or osmotic pressure,
Another object of the present invention.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a body fluid treatment device that transports a liquid by siphoning and stores the liquid either by capillary or osmotic pressure.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a body fluid treatment device that comprises a substantially geometrically saturated liquid transport member prior to its intended use.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a body fluid treatment device that includes a liquid transport member that includes free liquid prior to the intended use of the device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a body fluid treatment process that includes siphon siphoning transport of body fluid from a capture area to a storage area. The step of transporting bodily fluid by siphon uptake comprises: providing a liquid transport member substantially geometrically saturated with a liquid prior to the first step of capturing the liquid, the liquid being a liquid. Saturating a liquid transport member in fluid communication with the capture region, comprising: providing a liquid storage member in fluid communication with the liquid transport member, the liquid storage member being within the storage region And capturing the liquid disposed in the capture region and injecting the liquid into the liquid transport member; and replacing at least a portion of the liquid saturating the liquid transport member with the captured liquid. And, storing at least a portion of the displaced liquid in a storage member.

The process of the invention is characterized in that the liquid is stored in the storage member by means selected from the group of capillary pressure and osmotic pressure.

It is another aspect of the invention to provide a body fluid treatment device designed to carry out the process of the invention.

It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a body fluid treatment device having at least one liquid capture area and at least one liquid storage area. The storage region stores the liquid by means selected from the group of capillary pressure and osmotic pressure. The body fluid treatment device includes a liquid transport member that transports the liquid from the capture region to the liquid storage region. The body fluid treatment device of the present invention is characterized in that the liquid transport member is substantially geometrically saturated prior to the intended use of the device.

It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a body fluid treatment device having at least one liquid capture area and at least one liquid storage area. The storage region stores the liquid by means selected from the group of capillary pressure and osmotic pressure. The body fluid treatment device includes a liquid transport member that transports the liquid from the capture region to the liquid storage region. The body fluid treatment device of the present invention is characterized in that the liquid transport member is substantially geometrically saturated with the free liquid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Siphon Wicking Process It is an aspect of the present invention to provide a process for transporting body fluid from a capture zone to a storage zone that has a step of transporting bodily fluid by siphon wicking.

The term “body fluid” as used herein refers to a liquid, in particular an aqueous liquid, that is excreted or produced by the mammalian living body at various places in the body, for example:
Refers to aqueous liquids such as urine, sweat, saliva, blood, menses, pus, stools, etc. The term "body fluid treatment device" as used herein refers to a device capable of acting on body fluids. Typical actions of this device include, but are not limited to, capture, transport, distribution, storage, modification, etc. Generally, such a device is a diaper,
Absorbent articles such as training pants, sanitary napkins, panties edgings, tampons, adult incontinence products, bed mats, cast bandages, sweat pads, wound covers, etc .; used to collect urine from the bladder of mobile and immobile patients Catheters;
It includes, but is not limited to, a urine bottle, in particular, a urine collecting device such as a portable urine bottle; a medical blood capturing device and a saliva capturing device; a body fluid collecting device and the like. Definition of siphon siphoning The term "siphon siphoning" means that liquid is transported from a capture area along a liquid transport member to a storage area, where the liquid transport member is substantially geometrical prior to its intended use of the device. Is saturated with at least a portion of the liquid trapped in the trapping area,
A process in which at least a portion of the liquid in the liquid transport member is replaced, which is then stored in the storage area. Generally, liquid storage is done on a time scale much shorter than the average time interval between two successive loads. In some cases, a delay may occur between the time the liquid is captured by the liquid transport member and the replaced liquid is stored in the storage area. Such delays can be caused by the volume increase that occurs in the liquid transport member after liquid capture. The process of siphon siphoning is generally reversible, and liquids can be transported in the opposite direction, depending on external conditions such as applied pressure. As used herein, "siphon siphon" includes internal siphon siphon as well as external siphon siphon defined later. In particular, the step of transporting the liquid by siphoning comprises: providing a liquid transport member substantially geometrically saturated with the liquid prior to the first step of capturing and delivering the liquid to the liquid transport member. A liquid saturating liquid transport member is in fluid communication with the capture region, and a liquid storage member in fluid communication with the liquid saturating liquid transport member is provided, The storage member is located inside the storage region; capturing the liquid disposed in the capture region and injecting the liquid into the liquid transport member; at least a portion of the liquid saturating the liquid transport member; Replacing the captured liquid with a storage member, the storage member selecting the liquid from the group of capillary pressure and osmotic pressure. Re Preserved by means.

As used herein, the term “geometrically saturated” refers to a porous material in which a liquid-permeable void space is filled with the liquid. The void spaces referred to in this definition are those that exist in the current geometry of porous materials. In other words, even if all voids in the device are filled with liquid in the current geometry, by changing its geometry, for example by expanding, Only by modification is it possible to receive even more liquid. The liquid handling device is part of the device and can be said to be geometrically saturated if all porous materials intended for liquid handling are geometrically saturated. .

The term “porous material” as used herein comprises at least two phases, a solid material and a gas or void phase, and a third liquid which partially or completely fills said void space. A material that may have a phase. The porosity of a material is defined as the ratio between the void volume in the same material and the total volume measured when the material is not filled with liquid. A non-limiting example of a porous material is foam,
For example, polyurethane, HIPE (eg PCT patent application WO 94/13704
), Super-absorbent foams and the like; fiber aggregates such as spun, twisted, napped cellulose webs, fiber beds, etc .; porous particles such as clay,
Zeolites and the like; geometric structural materials such as tubes, balloons, passage structures, etc. Porous materials can absorb liquids even if they are not hydrophilic. Therefore, the porosity of the material is not associated with its affinity for the absorbed liquid.

As used herein, the term “substantially geometrically saturated” means that at least 90% of the macroscopic void volume of the member is geometrically saturated, preferably the macroscopic of the device. At least 95% of the mechanical void volume is geometrically saturated, more preferably 97% of the macroscopic void volume of the device is geometrically saturated, and most preferably of the macroscopic void volume of the device. 99% refers to parts that are geometrically saturated.

If desired, the liquid-transporting member, which is substantially geometrically saturated with liquid, may have further individual steps. For example, the step may include a first step of supplying the liquid transport member and a second step of activating the liquid transport member. The step of activating includes, for example, disposing the liquid on the liquid transport member,
The liquid may then be absorbed by a liquid transport material, thereby substantially geometrically saturating the liquid transport member. Alternatively, the step of activating makes the area intended for capture functional by manipulating the area, for example by temporarily peeling the paper off or by wetting at least a portion of the intended capture area. It may have steps.

If desired, the body fluid treatment process according to the present invention comprises: providing a liquid capturing member; capturing body fluid in the capturing member; at least a portion of the captured body fluid Transporting to a liquid transport member. Internal Siphon Siphoning The term "internal siphon siphoning" as used herein refers to a siphon process in which a storage area is in direct fluid communication with a liquid saturating a liquid transport member. In this case, the storage member may be located inside the liquid transport member. Therefore, in such a storage member it is possible to capture the liquid directly from the liquid transport member, in particular the liquid that has been replaced by the liquid that has just been captured. If desired, the liquid storage member in this case may also be substantially geometrically saturated with liquid prior to its intended use. External Siphon Siphon The term "external siphon siphon" refers to a siphon process in which a storage area is located external to, but in fluid communication with, a liquid transport member.
In this case, the liquid transported from the liquid transport member to the liquid storage member must be discharged from the liquid transport member in the liquid discharge area.

If desired, at least one of the plurality of storage areas may be in direct contact with the liquid discharge area. Alternatively, the bodily fluid treatment process according to the present invention comprises the step of transporting at least a portion of the liquid treatment component released to the liquid storage component. Liquid Transport Member The term “liquid transport member” as used herein refers to a device capable of transporting liquid from a first region to a second region.

Hereinafter, a suitable form of the liquid processing member will be described. The liquid handling member is constructed from a cell open foam material that is completely covered with a membrane. Suitable membrane materials are commercially available from SEFAR, Reuschlikon, Switzerland, under the designation SEFAR 03-20 / 14. A suitable foam material is the Bullpen S10 from Recticel, Brussels, Belgium.
It is commercially available under the black display. The preferred technique for completely coating the foam material with the membrane material is to wrap the foam material around the foam material and then heat seal the entire open end of the membrane material. It will be immediately apparent to the skilled practitioner that other suitable materials may be selected as well. Depending on the particular application for which the liquid treatment component is intended, it may be necessary to select similar materials with slightly different properties. After assembly, the liquid treatment member is activated by immersion in water or synthetic urine, which is continued until the liquid treatment member is completely filled with liquid and the membrane is completely wet with liquid. After activation, a part of the liquid inside the liquid treatment member may be squeezed by applying external pressure to the liquid treatment member. In order for the activation of the liquid treatment member to be successful, the liquid treatment member must not draw air through the membrane.

Another liquid treatment component suitable for the purposes of the present invention is, for example, “Liquid transport component for high flow velocity transport between two port regions” submitted on June 29, 1998 under the name Ehrnsperger et al. PCT patent application PCT / US98 / 13497, the following PCT patent application co-filed with this application, filed under the names of Ehrnsperger et al. "High flow rate liquid transport member with two different permeability regions" (P & G Case CM1840MQ), filed under the name of Ehrnsperger, etc. "Liquid transport member for high velocity transport between two port areas" (P & G case CM1841MQ), filed under the name of Ehrnsperger, etc. Filed under the name of Ehrnsperger, an application entitled "Liquid transport member for high-velocity transport against P.G." (P & G case CM1842MQ), "Liquid transport member with high permeability bulk region and high bubble point pressure port region" (P & G case CM1843MQ). All of these documents are incorporated herein by reference.

The particular size of the liquid treatment member of the present invention can be varied according to the particular requirements of the intended application. For example, if the liquid treatment member is intended for use in an absorbent article, the liquid treatment member may have its intended liquid capture area fitted between the wearer's legs. Further, its intended liquid discharge zone may be defined to be compatible with the morphology of the liquid storage member associated with it. Accordingly, the outer size of the liquid treatment member, eg, its length, width, or thickness, may also be adapted to the particular requirements of the intended application. However, in this context, it must be acknowledged that the design of the outer shape of the liquid treatment member affects the performance of the member. For example, the cross section of the liquid treatment member directly affects the flow velocity at that portion.

In order to apply the liquid treatment member to the body fluid treatment device according to the present invention, the liquid treatment member must be used together with the storage member. The term "liquid storage member" refers to a device capable of capturing and storing a liquid. The volume of the liquid storage member is
For example, it may be changed depending on the amount of liquid stored by expansion or the like. Typically, the storage member absorbs liquid by capillary suction and / or osmotic pressure. Other storage members may also use vacuum as a means for storing the liquid. The liquid storage member is further capable of holding a portion of the stored liquid under pressure. Suitable storage members are well known in the art and may comprise, for example, superabsorbent polymeric materials such as polyacrylates. The storage member may further comprise a fibrous structure having particulate superabsorbent dispersed therein, such as a pad of cellulosic fibers. A suitable absorbent gel material is ASA, commercially available from Chemical Ltd. of the United Kingdom.
It is P400. Suitable superabsorbent polymers, which are often referred to as "hydrogel-forming polymers" or "absorbent gel materials," are described in U.S. Pat. No. 562,646 (Goldman et al.
), And U.S. Pat. No. 5,599,335 issued Feb. 4, 1997 (Goldman et al.).
It is described in.

To capture the liquid discharged from the liquid treatment member, the storage member may be placed in direct fluid communication with the liquid discharge design zone of the liquid treatment member.

Suitable superabsorbent polymers, which are often also referred to as “hydrogel-forming polymers” or “absorbent gel materials”, for other examples of these polymers, see 1
U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,646 issued October 8, 996 (Goldman et al.) And U.S. Pat. No. 5,599,335 issued February 4, 1997 (Goldman et al.).

In one embodiment of the present invention, the liquid treatment member of the present invention is geometrically saturated or substantially geometrically saturated with free liquid. The term "free liquid" as used herein refers to a liquid that is not bound to a particular surface or other entity. The free liquid can be obtained by measuring the proton spin relaxation time T2 of the liquid molecule by NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectrophotometry known in the art,
It is possible to distinguish it from the binding liquid. Body fluid treatment device As one aspect of the present invention, a body fluid treatment device including the liquid transport member according to the present invention is supplied. This device includes disposable absorbent articles such as baby diapers and training pants, adult incontinence products, and feminine hygiene products, and other fluid treatment products such as catheters, urinals, and the like. There is no limitation.

In one embodiment of the invention, the body fluid treatment device is a disposable absorbent article, such as a diaper, training pants, sanitary napkin, adult incontinence device, or the like. Such an absorbent article may further include a liquid-permeable topsheet and a liquid-impermeable backsheet that is at least partially joined to the topsheet at the peripheral portion. The absorbent article may further comprise an absorbent core that acts as a bodily fluid storage member. Topsheets, backsheets, and absorbent cores suitable for the present invention are well known in the art. In addition, there are many other properties known in the art that may be used in combination with the absorbent articles of the present invention. For example, a closure mechanism that attaches absorbent articles around the waist of the wearer.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (31) Priority claim number US9813521 (32) Priority date June 29, 1998 (June 29, 1998) (33) Priority claiming countries United States (US) (31) Priority claim number US9813523 (32) Priority date June 29, 1998 (June 29, 1998) (33) Priority claiming countries United States (US) (81) Designated countries EP (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, I T, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE), OA (BF, BJ , CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG), AP (GH, GM, K E, LS, MW, SD, SL, SZ, UG, ZW), E A (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ , TM), AE, AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA , BB, BG, BR, BY, CA, CH, CN, CU, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, GB, GD, G E, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS , JP, KE, KG, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV, MD, MG, MK, M N, MW, MX, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU , SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM, TR, TT, UA, UG, US, UZ, VN, YU, Z A, ZW (72) Inventor Schmid, Matthias             Federal Republic of Germany Day 65510 Idsi             Uttain, Altkoenig Bake 3 (72) Inventor Aernsperger, Bruno, Johannes             Federal Republic of Germany, day-65,936 francs             Kurfart am Main, Westerbach             Strasse 89 F term (reference) 3B029 BA17                 4C003 AA22 BA01 BA03 BA04 DA01                 4C098 AA09 CC02 DD23

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. A body fluid treatment process comprising the step of transporting bodily fluid from a capture region to a storage region by siphon siphoning, the step of transporting bodily fluid by siphon siphoning substantially prior to the first step of capturing the liquid. Providing a liquid transport member that is geometrically saturated with a liquid, the liquid saturating the liquid transport member being in fluid communication with the liquid capture region, A step of supplying a liquid storage member in liquid communication, wherein the liquid storage member is located inside the storage area, and captures the liquid arranged in the capture area to capture the liquid. Injecting into the liquid, replacing at least a part of the liquid that saturates the liquid transport member with the captured liquid, and storing at least a part of the replaced liquid in a storage unit. And a step of storing in the material, the liquid,
A body fluid treatment process characterized by being stored in a storage member by means selected from the group of capillary pressure and osmotic pressure. 2. The step of providing a liquid transport member that is substantially geometrically saturated with a liquid comprises the steps of providing a liquid transport member and activating the liquid transport member. The body fluid treatment process according to claim 1, wherein 3. The bodily fluid treatment process of claim 2, wherein the step of activating the liquid transport member comprises the step of substantially geometrically saturating the liquid transport member. 4. At least one of said storage members is located inside said liquid transport member, said storage member comprising said liquid substantially saturating said liquid transport member. The body fluid treatment process according to claim 1, which is in direct contact. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein at least one of the storage members is substantially geometrically saturated prior to the first step of capturing and injecting liquid into the liquid treatment member. Body fluid treatment process. 6. At least one of the liquid storage members is located outside the liquid transport member and is in fluid communication with the liquid transport member, and the replaced liquid is the liquid transport member. 2. The bodily fluid treatment process of claim 1, wherein the bodily fluid treatment process of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the released liquid is stored in a storage member outside the liquid transport member. 7. The body fluid treatment process according to claim 6, wherein at least a part of the displaced liquid is discharged from the liquid transport member through a liquid discharge region. 8. The body fluid treatment process of claim 7, wherein at least one of the liquid storage members outside the liquid transport member is in direct fluid communication with the liquid discharge area. 9. The method further comprising transporting at least a portion of the discharged liquid from at least one of the liquid discharge areas to at least one of the storage members. 7. The body fluid treatment process according to 7. 10. The method further comprises the steps of supplying a liquid capturing member, capturing body fluid and injecting it into the liquid capturing member, and transporting at least a part of the captured liquid to the liquid transporting member. The body fluid treatment process according to claim 1, wherein 11. A body fluid treatment device, which, in use, is designed to carry out the process according to any one of the preceding claims. 12. The device of claim 11, wherein the device is a disposable absorbent article.
The body fluid treatment device according to. 13. The body fluid treatment device according to claim 12, wherein the device is a disposable diaper. 14. A body fluid treatment device having at least one liquid capture region and at least one liquid storage region, wherein the storage region stores liquid by means selected from the group of capillary pressure and osmotic pressure. The body fluid treatment device for storage comprises a liquid transport member for transporting liquid from the capture region to the liquid storage region, the liquid transport member being substantially geometric prior to its intended use. A body fluid treatment device characterized in that it is biologically saturated. 15. A body fluid treatment device having at least one liquid capturing region and at least one liquid storage region, wherein the storage region is a liquid selected by means selected from the group consisting of capillary pressure and osmotic pressure. And the body fluid treatment device comprises a liquid transport member for transporting liquid from the capture region to the liquid storage region, wherein the liquid transport member is substantially geometrically shaped by the free liquid. A body fluid treatment device characterized by being saturated. 16. A body fluid treatment device having at least one liquid trapping region and at least one liquid storage region spatially separated from the liquid trapping region, wherein the storage region is capillary pressure. And a liquid is stored by a means selected from the group of osmotic pressure, and the body fluid treatment device includes a liquid transport member that transports the liquid from the capture region to the liquid storage region, and the liquid transport member is the liquid. A body fluid treatment device, characterized in that a liquid is transported from a capture region to the storage region by siphon suction. 17. The body fluid treatment device according to claim 16, wherein at least one of the storage areas is located inside the liquid transport member. 18. The body fluid treatment device according to claim 16, wherein at least one of the storage areas is located outside the liquid transport member. 19. The device of claim 16, wherein the device is a disposable absorbent article.
The body fluid treatment device according to. 20. The disposable absorbent article is a disposable diaper,
A disposable absorbent article according to claim 19.